Gibson: VA has lost trust of vets, American people

Jul. 16, 2014 - 01:11PM
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Veterans Affairs acting Secretary Sloan Gibson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on the state of VA health care in the wake of revelations of neglect and delayed medical visits. He is accompanied by Assistant Deputy Undersecretary For Health For Administrative Operations Philip Matkowsky. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON — The top official of the Department of Veterans Affairs says the agency has lost the trust of veterans and the American people as a result of widespread treatment delays for people seeking health care and falsified records to cover up those delays.

Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson says the agency has created an environment where workers are afraid to raise concerns or offer suggestions for fear of retaliation and has failed to hold employees accountable for wrongdoing.

Gibson told a Senate committee Wednesday he is committed to restoring the trust of veterans and the American people.

Gibson took over as acting secretary May 30 after VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was forced to resign amid a growing uproar over treatment delays and other problems at VA hospitals and clinics nationwide.